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Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Athens County, Ohio

Athens County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,129 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $939 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $21.71 an hour, full time.

Figure your move-in cash Section 8 here
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Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,129
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
11% less than in Ohio
Typical rent
$939
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
9% less than in Ohio
Wage needed
$21.71
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $45,160 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
58%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
26% more than in Ohio

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Only here

Renting in Athens County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. At 58%, Athens County ranks 2nd among the 87 counties in Ohio with this figure for the largest share of rent-burdened renters.

  2. Athens County has the highest typical rent in its area: $939, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Washington County ($852).

  3. Athens County has the 4th lowest homeownership rate of the 88 counties in Ohio (60%).

  4. Athens County has the 8th lowest typical household income of the 88 counties in Ohio ($56,001).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Athens County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

According to Zillow (ZORI), the typical asking rent in Athens County was $1,127 a month in September 2026: 3.1% less than 12 months ago. It is an index of market listings, not a HUD limit. Zillow data

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $965 $18.56 $38,600
1 bedroom $992 $19.08 $39,680
2 bedrooms $1,129 $21.71 $45,160
3 bedrooms $1,415 $27.21 $56,600
4 bedrooms $1,484 $28.54 $59,360

HUD area: Athens County, OH. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 23 ZIP codes in Athens County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,000 in 45716 to $1,240 in 45711. 5 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($1,129).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Athens County, 58% of renter households are in that position; in Ohio, 46%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

58%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

9,115 households rent in Athens County

  • Spend half or more of their income 34%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 24%
  • Spend less than 30% 42%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Athens 58%
  • Ohio 46%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Athens County

HUD lists 22 properties with homes for low-income households in Athens County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

with tax credits (LIHTC)
8
HUD-assisted
13
public housing
2

951 homes in all; 808 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Campus Heights Phase II HUD-assisted 115 Carriage Hill Dr, Athens 45701 120 homes, 84 low-income · For families
  • Athens-Fairfield HUD-assisted 93 W Union St, Athens 45701 62 low-income homes · For older adults · (740) 592-4025
  • Evergreen Estates HUD-assisted 45 E 4th St, The Plains 45780 60 low-income homes · For families · (740) 797-4287
  • Plains Plaza Tax credit (LIHTC) 45 E 4th St, The Plains 45780 60 low-income homes · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 16 · 4 bd: 4 · In service since 2009 · For families
  • Carpenter Hall HUD-assisted 19 E Carpenter St, Athens 45701 53 low-income homes · For older adults · (740) 593-5109
  • Sandstone Apartments Tax credit (LIHTC) 100 N Plains Rd, The Plains 45780 50 low-income homes · 2 bd: 10 · 3 bd: 36 · 4 bd: 4 · In service since 2018 · For families
  • Albany Arms Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 5824 Rossetter Rd, Albany 45710 46 low-income homes · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 32 · In service since 2006
  • Heritage Commons HUD-assisted 22 Kurtz St, Athens 45701 45 low-income homes · For older adults · (740) 593-5464
  • Kimberly Meadows HUD-assisted 15480 State Route 691, Nelsonville 45764 45 homes, 44 low-income · For older adults · (740) 753-1116
  • Hope Drive Apartments Public housing 101 Hope Dr, Athens 45701 44 low-income homes · Run by Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $506 a month · Average wait: 8 months · (740) 592-4481
  • Westview Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) · HUD-assisted 300 W State St, Athens 45701 44 low-income homes · In service since 1991 · For families · (740) 593-8321
  • Beaumont Greene Tax credit (LIHTC) 13701 Della Dr, Athens 45701 40 low-income homes · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 36 · In service since 2007 · For older adults
  • Nelsonville Homes HUD-assisted 900 E Canal St, Nelsonville 45764 40 low-income homes · For older adults · (740) 753-2471
  • First Street Village HUD-assisted 40 E 1st St, The Plains 45780 39 low-income homes · For families · (740) 797-2310
  • Creekside Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 108 Lexington Ave, Chauncey 45719 32 low-income homes · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1998 · For older adults
  • Scattered Sites Public housing 33 E 3rd St, The Plains 45780 27 low-income homes · Run by Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority · Average payment: $482 a month · Average wait: 10 months · Homes at several sites · (740) 592-4481
  • Dew House HUD-assisted 6 Public Sq, Nelsonville 45764 12 low-income homes · For older adults · (740) 592-4481
  • Evergreen Terrace HUD-assisted 1360 Carpenter Rd, Albany 45710 12 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Hopewell House HUD-assisted 25 Hocking St, Athens 45701 8 low-income homes · For people with disabilities · (740) 385-6594
  • Sandstone Apartments Tax credit (LIHTC) 100 N Plains Rd, The Plains 45780 4 low-income homes · 2 bd: 1 · 3 bd: 2 · 4 bd: 1 · In service since 2018
  • Sandstone Family Apartments HUD-assisted 100 N Plains Rd, The Plains 45780 48 homes, 2 low-income · (740) 983-4566
  • Evergreen Estates Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 45 E 4th St, The Plains 45780 60 homes

One property has two programs at the same address and appears once. Search HUD's map

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Athens County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 1 agency serves in Athens County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$18,700 $31,150 $49,800
$21,640 $35,600 $56,900
$27,320 $40,050 $64,000
$33,000 $44,450 $71,100
$38,680 $48,050 $76,800
$44,360 $51,600 $82,500
$50,040 $55,150 $88,200
$55,720 $58,700 $93,900

Area median income: $88,900. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Athens County, OH. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $869 – $1,062
  • 1 bedroom $893 – $1,091
  • 2 bedrooms $1,016 – $1,242
  • 3 bedrooms $1,274 – $1,557
  • 4 bedrooms $1,336 – $1,632

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Ohio Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Ohio

What Ohio law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

When must they return my deposit?
30 days
Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16(B)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
3 days
Ohio Rev. Code §1923.04(A)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
30 days
Ohio Rev. Code §5321.17(B)
  • Only a court order can remove youOhio Rev. Code §5321.15(A)
  • Protection from retaliationOhio Rev. Code §5321.02(A)

Help

Where to get help with rent in Athens County

HUD lists no counseling agencies near in Athens County. Free legal aid and your housing agency can guide you.

See every agency in Ohio Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Athens County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Ohio, the average home bill was $135 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$2,258

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$1,129
Security deposit
$1,129
Total
$2,258

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Athens County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $965; 1 bedroom: $992; 2 bedrooms: $1,129; 3 bedrooms: $1,415; 4 bedrooms: $1,484. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Athens County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,129) without spending more than 30% of income takes $21.71 an hour full time, or $45,160 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Athens County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $44,450 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Athens County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $1,016 and $1,242 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Athens County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,000 in 45716 to $1,240 in 45711. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Athens County?

HUD lists 22 properties with homes for low-income households in Athens County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Athens County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Athens County, 58% of renter households are in that position; in Ohio, 46%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).